Steam superheater for locomotive and other smoke-tube boilers.



J. G. ROBINSON. STEAM SUPERHBATER FOR LOGOMOTIVE AND OTHER SMOKE TUBEBOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1912.

1,077,641 Patented Nov. 4; 1913.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON. D C.

J. G. ROBINSON. STEAM SUPERHBATER FOR LOGOMOTIVB AND OTHER SMOKE TUBEBOILERS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1912.

1,077,641 Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLAYNOGRAPH co, WASHINGTON, n. c.

.QNITEEses J. G. ROBINSON. STEAM SUPERHEATER FOR LOGOMOTIVE AND OTHERSMOKE TUBE BOILERS;

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1912. 1,077,641 Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3 COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH COUWASIHNGTON D. :4

JOHN GEORGE .ROBINSON, OF MANCI-IESTER, ENGLAND.

STEAM SUPERHEATER FOR LOCOMOTIVE AND OTHER SMOKE-TUBE BOILERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

Application filed July 26, 1912. Serial No. 711 ,681.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN GEORGE ROBIN- SON, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain and Ireland, residing at Manchester, in the county ofLancaster, England, (whose postoffice address is Boothdale, F airfield,Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, England,) have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in and Relating to Steam- Superheaters forLocomotive and other Smoke-Tube Boilers; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in steam superheaters for boilersof the smoke tube type and is more particularly designed for use onlocomotives.

In superheaters of the kind in which superheating pipes are placed inenlarged smoke tubes disposed among the ordinary smoke tubes of theboiler the ends of the superheating pipes being connected to a header,it is very desirable to provide a means for protecting the superheatingpipes from damage by heat when the regulator is closed and steam is notpassing through them to the cylinders, as for instance, in the ease of alocomotive boiler, at such times as the engine is stopped or when steamis shut oil from the engine cylinders when the locomotive is travelingdown an incline. This has usually been efiected by means of a mechanicaldamper which covers the ends of the enlarged smoke tubes at their smokebox ends, the damper forming in some instances a part of a chamber whichincloses the ends of the superheating pipes extending from the ends ofthe smoke tubes to the header. Such dampers have been arranged to openautomatically when steam is admitted to the superheater and to closewhen steam is shut oif from the said superheater by the closing of theregulator. Sometimes the dampers have been arranged to be worked by handonly. lVhichever arrangement be used the presence of the damper and itsadjunctive parts forms a serious obstruction to access to the ends ofthe enlarged smoke tubes and of the superheating pipes, in addition tobeing costly.

The present invent-ion has for its object to provide an arrangementwhereby the superheating pipes will be protected from damage by heatwhen steam is not passing through them to the cylinders and thisprotection obtained without the employment of a mechanical damper or thelike mechanical conrow of enlarged smoke tubes containing thesuperheating pipes a steam pipe connected to the steam space of theboiler and from which steam pipes a small jet of steam is deliveredcentrally between the longitudinal portions of the superheater elementsor pipes into the smoke box end of each enlarged smoke tube when theregulator is closed and steam is cut olf from the superheater. This jetof steam will be so proportioned as not to be powerful enough to inducea draft along the tube in the direction of the fire box, but will onlybe sufliciently powerful to neutralize the draft caused by the blower.If the draft caused by the blower be so neutralized it will be clearthat the fire gases will not pass along the enlarged smoke tubes andoverheat the superheating pipes. The small jet of steam in effectintroduces a plug of steam into the end of the enlarged smoke tube andthis plug is renewed as fast as the smoke bo-x suction withdraws it solong as the regulator valve be closed and steam admitted to the abovementioned steam pipes across the smoke tubes.

As the smoke box suction of a locomotive when steam is shut oif dependspractically entirely on the steam blower the strength of the steam jetsintroduced into the ends of the enlarged smoke tubes containing thesuper- 7 heating pipes can readily be proportioned to that of the blowerby taking their steam from branch on the blower supply pipe.

In the preferred. arrangement according to this invention the steam jetnozzles are fixed into short branches taken from the steam pipesextending across the ends of the enlarged smoke tubes and where asuperheater element having four longitudinal portions or pipes placed ineach smoke tube two washers are mounted on each jet pipe or nozzle andtake between the four portions of the superheater element so as toinsure each jet pipe being central between the superheater pipes tothereby prevent any cutting of the pipes by the steam jets.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich,-

Figure 1 shows in front elevation, and Fig. 2 in cross sectionalelevation, the header in the smoke box, the superheater elements orpipes, and some of the smoke tubes of a smoke tube type of superheaterapplied to a boiler of the locomotive type, provided with a damperaccording to this invention. Figs. 3 and 4 are views, on a larger scale,of one of the damper jets; Fig. 5 is detail view of the connection ofthe damper steam pipe to its steam supply, and of a means of positioningand supporting said damper steam pipe, and Fig. 6 is a view on anenlarged scale and partly sectional showing the position a blower jetoccupies in relation to the component longitudinal pipes or portions ofa superheater element. Like reference symbols indicate like parts in theseveral figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the smoke box tube plateand 2 the headeror steam collector of the superheater, 3 being the superheater elementsor pipes and at the enlarged smoke tubes in Which said elements areplaced.

'5 are'ordinary smokeor fire tubes or fines of the boiler.

6 is a pipe connected to a suitable steam supply pipe, which supply pipemay be and preferably .is the steam supply pipe to the usual steamblower of the locomotive. The pipe 6 is connected by a pipe ,7 to anumber of cross pipes 8 arranged at the smoke box ends of the enlargedsmoke or fire tubes 7 4, and at each enlarged smoke tube t a suitableshort branch is taken from the pipe 8 in each of which branches isscrewed or otherwise mounted a steam jet nozzle 9.

It will be seen that the piping of the damper according to thisinvention conof short lengths of standard gas or other pipe of suitablediameter coupled by Ts and elbows, and at suitable places (as at 10, 10Fig. 1) union joints are provided to facilitate the work of taking thedamper apart. In the arrangement shown in the drawings the nozzles 9 areconnected to the pipes 8 as follows :-Opposite each enlarged smoke tube4; the pipes 8 are provided with T-pieces 11, to the vertical branch 12of each of which an elbow 13 is connected by a nipple. Into thehorizontal portion of the elbow 13 the end of the nozzle 9 is screwed, abushing being first screwed into the elbow if necessary owing todifference in diameter. In order that the center line of the nozzle 9shall be kept parallel to the center lines of the longitudinal portionsof the superheater element or pipe 3 and that said nozzle shall also be.kept in position centrally between said longitudinal portions, twowashers 14;, 15 are secured on said nozzle 9 (for instance, the washer14 is. first passed about said nozzle 9 into position, a: distance pieceor thimble 16 being next placed in position and the washer l5 finallyscrewed on to said nozzle) and these washers take between the saidlongitudinal portions of the element 3 as shown. If found necessary ordesirable a segmental portion may be removed from the upper part ofwasher 14: so that said washer may have a greater bearing against theunderside of that return bend fitting of the element which is above thesaid washer.

To position the pipes 6, 7 and to afford support thereto, a screwed plug17 is PTO? vided on the smoke tube plate 1 being secured to the latterby a flange connection 18 and on to the plug 17 the T piece 19, whichconnects pipes 6 and 7 is screwed as shown. Plugs 20, or other closingmeans, may be employed to close the ends of the cross pipes 8. The crosspipes 8 might be arranged to rest on the super-heater elements 3 orother means might if desired be employed for supporting them.

When steam is admitted to pipe 6, as 1 when the blower valve is actuatedto place the blower in action, it passes to the cross pipes 8 and jetsor nozzles 9 and issuing therefrom it acts in the manner hereinbeforeset forth.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. In a locomotive or like boiler, the combination of a multiplicityof enlarged smoke or fire tubes, superheater elements or steam pipesextending into the said fire tubes, a plurality of branch steam pipesopposite the outlet ends of the said fire tubes, a plurality of steamjet nozzles connected with the said branch pipes, one nozzle for each ofsaid fire tubes and the outlet ends of the said nozzle projecting intothe outlet ends of the i said fire tubes, a steam pipe connection fromthe boiler steam space to the said branch steam pipes and means forcontrolling the admission of steam to the said pipe connection from theboiler and to the branch steam pipes and nozzles, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

2. In a locomotive or like boiler, the combination of a multiplicity ofenlarged smoke or fire tubes, superheater elements or pipes extendinginto the said fire tubes, a plurality of branch steam pipes opposite theoutlet v 15 ends of the said fire tubes, a plurality of steam jet,nozzles connected with the said branch pipes one nozzle for eachenlarged fire tube and the outlet ends of the said nozzles locatedcentrally between the longir. tudinal portions of the superheaterelements,

a steam pipe connection from the boiler.

steam space to the said branch steam pipes,

and means for controlling admission of steam to the said pipe connectionfrom the boiler and to the branch steam pipes and nozzles connectedthereto, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a locomotive or like boiler, the combination of a multiplicity ofenlarged smoke or fire tubes, superheater elements or pipes extendinginto the said fire tubes, a plurality of branch steam pipes opposite theoutlet ends of the said fire tubes, a plurality of steam jet nozzlesconnected with the said branch pipes, one nozzle for each enlarged firetube and the outlet ends of the said nozzles located centrally betweenthe longitudinal portions of the superheater elements, and a steam pipeconnection from the blower steam supply pipe to the said branch steampipes, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

at. In a locomotive or like boiler, the combination of a multiplicity ofenlarged smoke or fire tubes, superheater elements or steam pipesextending into the said fire tubes, a plurality of horizontally arrangedsteam pipes, a vertical steam pipe connecting the said horizontal pipes,downwardly projecting pipe connections to the said horizontal pipes,steam jet nozzles connected to the said downwardly projecting pipes andin axial alinement with the respective fire tubes and having theiroutlet ends located centrally between the longitudinal portions of thesuperheater elements, and a steam pipe connection from the blower steamsupply pipe to the said horizontal and vertical steam pipes and nozzles,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a locomotive or like boiler the combination of a multiplicity ofenlarged smoke or fire tubes, superheater elements or pipes extendinginto the said fire tubes, a plurality of branch steam pipes opposite theoutlet ends of the said fire tubes, a plurality of steam jet nozzlesconnected with the said branch pipes one nozzle for each enlarged firetube and the outlet ends of the said nozzles located centrally betweenthe longitudinal portions of the superheater elements, a collar adjacentthe outlet end or each nozzle and bearing on the said longitudinalportions of the superheater elements, a steam pipe connection from theboiler steam space to the said branch steam pipes, and means forcontrolling admission of steam to the said pipe connection from theboiler and to the branch steam pipes and nozzles ccnneeted thereto,substantially and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a fire-tube boiler, the combination,

with a fire-tube open at each end, and a superheater element arranged atthe outlet end oi the fire-tube and projecting longitudinally within it;of a steam jet tube arranged longitudinally within the outlet endportion of the fire-tube and operating to prevent the said superh aterelement from becoming overheated when not in operation, the steam beingdelivered from the said jet tube in the opposite direction from the flowof the products of combustion in the firetube and being ultimatelydischargedwith them from the outlet end of the fire-tube.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN GEORGE ROBINSON. Witnesses:

FRANCES KING, ETHEL SLATER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

